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Columbia Seminary prepares students for ministry both academically and practically. Students are challenged to think deeply and critically while at the same time actively participating in community and ministry.

Academics

Columbia Seminary prepares students for ministry both academically and practically. Students are challenged to think deeply and critically while at the same time actively participating in community and ministry.

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Columbia Seminary prepares students for ministry both academically and practically. Students are challenged to think deeply and critically while at the same time actively participating in community and ministry.

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Columbia Seminary prepares students for ministry both academically and practically. Students are challenged to think deeply and critically while at the same time actively participating in community and ministry.

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Columbia Seminary prepares students for ministry both academically and practically. Students are challenged to think deeply and critically while at the same time actively participating in community and ministry.

Lifelong Learning

Columbia Seminary prepares students for ministry both academically and practically. Students are challenged to think deeply and critically while at the same time actively participating in community and ministry.

Possibility and Potentiality

By Israel Galindo, Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning and Director of Online Education.

June 26, 2017—I had an interesting conversation with a local church minister who expressed frustration about his congregation’s failure to live fully into its potential. That’s not an uncommon frustration for pastors and local church leaders. But I have found it helpful to make a distinction between possibility and potentiality, between what is theoretically possible and what is potentially viable.

In my thinking possibility refers to a future prospect. In a sense, to say “anything is possible” can be true, within reason. A congregation that is in its establishment phase (six to eighteen months) has open-ended possibilities. That translates into an almost palpable sense of hopefulness, lots of energy, and a sense of adventure which facilitate risk-taking. But it does not take long for a new church start to move into its next life stage of formation and formatting.

At that point potentiality overshadows possibility. Potentiality has to do with the inherent ability and capacity for growth, development, and agency. While all congregations may envision many possibilities at their inception, very quickly the reality of their potential becomes evident. Not all congregations have equal potential. The numbers of factors that influence potentiality are numerous: location, culture (values and practices), socio-economic and educational level of members, the capacities of its leaders, social and economic context, level of external financial support, etc. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Some factors related to potentiality are difficult to quantify (like values, attitudes, willingness)

Some factors may be outside of the control of the congregation (context, location, economics)

Potentiality may not be related to effectiveness. Some congregations don’t grow numerically or develop organizationally because they’ve reached the stage (or conditions) where they are effective enough for their needs and desires, and, the mission to which they are called.

Potentiality requires capacity—in other words, “the talent must be in the room.”

Distinguishing between the ideals of possibilities and the realities of potentiality may at least get us unhooked from unrealistic expectations. It can allow us to lead the congregation in discernment with more integrity and hopefulness.